Barack Obama is Not Muslim. He's the Anti-Christ. Or Maybe Hitler.

Related Post: Barack Obama is Hitler (This Time They’re Serious)

Our favourite on-line encyclopedia, Conservapedia, seems to be flagging in its quest to prove scientifically (creation-scientifically, not evolution-scientifically) that President Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim. Their latest evidence, "He has said that 'Islam can be compatible with the modern world'", seems to be an even bigger stretch than the Man-Lived-Alongside-Dinosaurs-Museum in Kentucky.

Maybe the Conservapedians need to re-focus their efforts. The crack investigative journalists at The Daily Show are tracking evidence that the Leader of the Free World is in fact the 666 Fellow or the Not Very Nice German with the Tiny Moustache:

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Unusual Suspect

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Obama's State of the Nation: Curing Cancer, Eating Baconnaise, and Slapping Down Bobby Jindal

We tried our best to offer an insightful analysis of President Obama's speech on Tuesday night, but I think we have to put our hands up before the incisive, surreal, and downright weird perspective of The Daily Show. Jon Stewart has a bit of fun with the Messiah who is Barack Obama --- "What are you, a wizard?!" --- in the second clip below. First, however, witness the decimation of wannabe Republican challenger Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana into children's TV icon Mr Rogers, "the besweatered friend of the trolley people" (and, oh yes, don't forget the Baconnaise):

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Bobby Jindal's Republican Response

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Optimist Prime

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The Troublemaking Cartoon: We Know Who Is Meant by the Chimp Now But Is That All?

A cartoon likening the author of the stimulus bill with the rampaging chimpanzee that was shot dead in Thursday's New York Post has been the subject of much discussion in the States. The cartoon depicts two police officers standing over the dead chimp, with one of them saying, “They'll have to find someone else to write the next bill.” According to some politicians and various human rights organizations, the chimpanzee was supposed to represent President Obama and that this depiction was an unacceptably racist move by the New York Post that exceeded the limits of freedom of expression. Other criticisms included the fact that making fun of a situation in which a woman was seriously hurt was not appropriate.

A day after the cartoon crisis and hundreds of demonstrators' complaints, an official response came from the New York Post: “It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. But it has been taken as something else – as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism. This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.” Unfortunately, the following statement makes this apology conditional: “However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with the Post in the past – and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due.” These last two sentences may be a tactical step by the newspaper in order to get out from under taking responsibility by calling attention to those who 'benefited from the situation' as the real trigger for raising the issue. At this point, I understand the newspaper's concern regarding the intention of the cartoon and appreciate the apology but making an apology conditional without being specific about the "some in the media and in public life," one is addressing overshadows the sincerity of the apology. In addition to this, I also agree with the criticism that it is absolutely not ethical to use such a dramatic event after which the chimp victim was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic, which performed the first successful face transplant in the United States of America. The Post's editorial team should have considered the seriousness of the situation before publishing the cartoon.

Some remember the cartoon crisis that took place between Muslims and the Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper, that published Mohammed cartoons in 2005. As we all remember, months-long protests targeted Israeli, Danish and American flags and embassies around the world. Even after what the protesters wanted – an apology from the newspaper – came in January 2006, the publication of similar cartoons by others re-strained relations. Yes, this recent cartoon has been the most controversial one since  the 2005 crisis. However, in terms of freedom of expression, I do not think that the two cases are comparable. Although both newspapers have apologized to those who felt offended, the misunderstanding of what had been intended by the New York Post is somewhat different to the offense caused to Muslims that picturing the prophet Mohammed caused. The real reaction behind the 2005 cartoon crisis was not that the pictures showed Mohammed as a 'terrorist' , but that he was pictured for any reason. We should take this fine distinction into consideration before comparing these two cases.

At the end of the day, the apology of from the New York Post is likely to diminish the tension. However the criticisms  --- that the New York Post's editors should have realised that the chimp could be perceived as Obama himself (and by extension whether shooting Obama was being encouraged), and that they should have considered the critical situation of the woman who was seriously hurt by the chimp --- are unlikely to end.

Fudging the Decision: The Obama Statement on Troop Increase in Afghanistan

The news has just come in that President Obama has approved an additional  Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Army Stryker Brigade, plus support troops, for Afghanistan. (see full statement) This is in addition to the brigade just deployed in the east of the Afghanistan.

That reads to me as a compromise with the military, which had asked for a total of five brigades. Meanwhile, Obama gets his review which seeks a "comprehensive strategy" for Afghanistan. That in turn is a kick in the teeth for the military's plan, which had sought the significant troop increase and a handover of non-military duties to NATO forces and European countries.

Which only leaves the questions: what will the review decide and when will it reach that decision?

Obama may have played for time by throwing the military a half-fulfilled request. That in no way resolves the battle, either in central Afghanistan or in Washington.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATEMENT

There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harm’s way. I do it today mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention and swift action. The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe-haven along the Pakistani border.

To meet urgent security needs, I approved a request from Secretary Gates to deploy a Marine Expeditionary Brigade later this spring and an Army Stryker Brigade and the enabling forces necessary to support them later this summer. This increase has been requested by General McKiernan and supported by Secretary Gates, the Joint Chiefs and the Commander of Central Command. General McKiernan’s request for these troops is months old, and the fact that we are going to responsibly drawdown our forces in Iraq allows us the flexibility to increase our presence in Afghanistan.

This reinforcement will contribute to the security of the Afghan people and to stability in Afghanistan. I recognize the extraordinary strain that this deployment places on our troops and military families. I honor their service, and will give them the support they need.

This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires. That is why I ordered a review of our policy upon taking office, so we have a comprehensive strategy and the necessary resources to meet clear and achievable objectives in Afghanistan and the region. This troop increase does not pre-determine the outcome of that strategic review. Instead, it will further enable our team to put together a comprehensive strategy that will employ all elements of our national power to fulfill achievable goals in Afghanistan. As we develop our new strategic goals, we will do so in concert with our friends and allies as together we seek the resources necessary to succeed.

Classic Israel-Palestine Joke of the Day

An Israeli arrives at Heathrow Airport. The passport control officer asks him, "Occupation?"

"No," replies the Israeli. "Just visiting."

Boom boom!